Refrigerating apparatus



3 Sheets-Sheet l k v man y.1. w. JACOBS REFRIG-EB-A'IING APPARATUS 'Original Filed Oct. l5, 1958 May 7, 1940.

May 7, 1940. .1. w. JACOBS REFRIGERATING APPARATUS .'5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Oct. 13, 1938 ATTORNEYS.

May 7, 1940. J. w. JACOBS.

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed Oct. 13, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. JMf; MCZl-Cof. BV

//S ATTORNEYS.

hanna M.; 1.19499 UNITED STATES 9 momma' mansros James W. Dayton, Ohio, assigner to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a oorporation of Delaware Application October 13, 1938, Serial No. 234,810

. Renewed August 28, 1939 This invention relates to liquid freezing devices such as an ice tray and grid therefor employed in household refrigerating apparatuses.

A general object of my invention is to provide an improved freezing device for liquids which includes a grid structure removably disposed in an ice tray for dividing the interior of the tray into a plurality of ice block compartments and a novel method of removing ice blocks from thetray and grid without the application of artificial heat thereto. Y

Another object of my invention is to provide a freezing device wherein a grid structure cooper- 'ates with a tray in such manner that movement of the grid outwardly of the tray causes movement of certain ofthe grid 'walls to liberate ice blocks from the grid structure prior to complete removal of the grid from the tray.

Another object of. my invention is to provide an improved liquid freezing device including a tray having a unitary grid structure removably disposed therein and having certain walls of the grid engaging a means on the tray, which forms an obstruction to movement of the grid outwardly of the tray, to thereby resolve a lifting force applied between the tray and grid into a force acting, through the obstruction formed on the tray,

upon certain walls of the grid to move same relativetc certain other of the grid walls to break the bond between walls of the grid and ice blocks contacting same for liberating the ice blocks from the unitary grid structure.

-It is a -further object of my invention to pro- 55 vide in a unitary removable grid structure, of the type which is capable of operationfor carrying out the foregoing objects, a plurality of pairs of substantially non-flexible metal walls extending laterally from and piwotallysecured to a substantially non-flexible metal longitudinal wall wherein the walls of each pair of lateral walls are disposedside by side and are movable toward one another within suitable slots provided in the longitudinal wall to decrease the over-all width of the grid structure and permit removal thereof from an interlocked position within a tray.

-A still further object of my invention is to provide in an improved freezing device of the type described a leverage means which is operable in one direction of motion for elevating the gridtogether with ice adhering thereto relative to the tray prior to causing movement of the grid walls to liberate ice blocks therefrom to thereby divide anddiminishtheforce requiredtoharvestice.

. A`trayll(seeFigs.l'anlzili)toprovldeameans blocks from the device.

More specinc objects and further advantages of my invention reside in the construction and .operation of my improved freezing device and in comprising a tray and a grid disposed therein lo.

and constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the freezing device disclosed in Figrl and is taken on the line 2-2 thereof showing the tray in section; f

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing ice blocks in the. freezing devicey and disclosing the grid structure and ice blocks therein elevated relative to the tray; a

Fig. 4 is a view disclosing the grid removed 20 from the tray and showing walls of the grid moved relative 'to one another with ice blocks removed therefrom andcontained in the tray;

Flg. 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the freezing device taken on the line 5--5 of 25 Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the device taken on the line 6-6 of Fig'. 3 showing the grid and ice blocks adhering thereto elevated relative to the tray; 3

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the grid released from the tray and disclosing movement of the grid transverse walls to loosen ice blocks therefrom; and

Fig. 8 is a. view showing the grid removed from 35 the. tray and ice blocks liberated from walls of the grid structure.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings I have illustrated the freezing device as including a metal ice tray l5 having a unitary metal walled grid I6 removably 40 interlocked with the tray l5 and constructed and arranged to divide the interior thereof in to longitudinal rows of ice block cells or compartments I1. The tray l5 has side walls I8 (see Figs. 5 to 8), a bottom wall I 9 and opposed end walls 2| 45 and 22. The tray side walls It and at least one of the end walls thereof diverge outwardly toward the top of the tray to facilitate removal of the grid from the tray. The walls i8., 2| and 22 oiA tray Il have their upper edge rolled or bent over, 50 n as at 22, to provide a rim which extends continuously around the top ofthe tray to increase its structural strength. An embossed portion on corrugation 24 is formed in each side wall I8 volf for receiving and interlocking walls of grid I3 to the tray I5. The embossed or corrugated portion 24 is located near the top or rim 23 of tray I5 and extends substantially throughout the length of. the side walls I8 thereof for a purpose to be hereinafter more specifically described. A portion of the metal tray I5 is extended downwardly from rim 23, as at 25, at the front end 22 thereof (see Fig. 2) andl provides a mounting for a heavy metal piece 25 which has a handle 21 pivotally secured thereto as at 28. At least one of the legs of handle 21 is provided with' a cam surface 29 which is adapted to engage the tray support to .break an ice-bond between the tray and its support in orv on a cooling element of a household refrigerating system as will hereinafter be more fully described.

'I'he unitary grid structure, generally repren sented by the reference character I5, o'f the freezingdevice is removably disposed withinl tray I5 and comprises a plurality of iniiexible' metal members which cooperate to form a plurality of walls dividing the interior of the tray into the longitudinal rows of cells or compartments I1. The grid structure I6 includes a longitudinal member or partition 3| comprising a rod 32 having a plurality of -metal segments 33 mounted therein by being welded or otherwise suitablysecured thereto Within grooves 34 provided therein (see Fig.' 5). The segments 33 of longitudinal partition 3| are vertically disposed and arranged in spaced apart aligned relation along the length of rod 32 to provide or form a plurality of slots 33 ,in the partition 3| between the segments. Prior to securing the segments 33 to rod 32 to providel the longitudinal partition 3|, I place a pair of members or walls 35, in opposed relation to one another, upon rod 32 and between each of the segments 33 so that' these walls 35 will be located within the slots 34 provided in partition 3|. Each member 35 of the plurality of pairs thereof has an opening provided in an ear 3B formed thereon and which opening receives the rod 32. Each member 35 also has a iingerpart 31 extending outwardly beyond the main body portion thereof and adapted to engage the tray I5 in a manner and fora purpose to be presently described. The unitary gn'd structure I6 also includes a pair of levers 4I, one of which is pivotally mounted by a pin or shaft 42 upon each end of the structure I6 by passing the pin'or shaft 42' through the legs 43 of ievers 4I and through a suitable opening provided in the end segments 33. Each of the levers 4I straddles the end segments 33 of partition 3| and includes a handle end 44 and a short tray engaging vcam end portion 45. It will be seen that the pairs of laterally extending members or walls 35 are pivotally mounted upon the longitudinal partition 3| for swinging movement in the spaces beltween the segments 33 which provides'slo'ts in the partition 3|.A '.The mounting of levers 4I upon the partition 3|A and the securing of members or walls 33 and 35 together forms a unitary grid structure which is adapted to be normally interlocked with tray I5 but removable therefrom as a unit. The gridv structure I6 is placed in tray I5 by moving the members35 of each pair thereof toward one another out of their normal ice freezing position' about their pivotal mounting on rod 32., The Width of the grid structure is thereby reduced to permit the nngers 31 on members 35 to move intothe tray I5 between the side walls I8 thereof. .-The bottom edges of members 35 will strike the bottom wall I3 of tray I5, upon movement of' grid I6 into the tray, and members 35 will again be moved outwardly into their normal ice freezing o positionwithin the tray. This outward movement of members 35 increases the over-all width of the grid structure and causesl the fingers 31 on members -35 to move-into the grooves 41 vformed by the corrugation or embossedparts 24 of tray I5. Thus, grid structure I6 is removably interlocked within trayv I5 with its walls in a normal ice freezing position. Grooves 41 provided in tray I5 by the corrugations 24 formed therein are of greater height than the outwardly extendingI finger portions 31 formed on members V35, and this diierence therebetween is for the purpose of permitting elevation of grid structure IIi together with ice blocks adhering thereto relative to tray I5 prior to moving walls of the grid relative to one another so' as to permit the ice bond between ice blocks within the grid structure and the tray to be broken.

Assume that grid structure I5 is ,interlocked within tray I5 in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 of the drawings and water` has been frozen in the freezing device in the, form of ice blocks or cubes 5I (see Figs. 3, 4, 6,- '1 and 8) in compartments I1, by the cooling eifect produced by an evaporator of a refrigerating system, and removal or harvesting of these ice blocks is desired. The tray handle 21 is grasped by the hand and pulled outwardly, thus causing sam`e to pivot about its pivotal mounting y28 and move downwardly. This initial downward movement of handle 21 causes the cam surface or surfaces 29 thereon to bear against the evaporator to break theice bond between the freezing devicefrigerating system the handle ends 44 of leversA 4I on grid I6 are grasped by the hand and elevated to cause the levers to rotate about their pivotal mounting vshafts or pins 42. 'I'his initial movement of levers 4I causes the short cam ends 45thereof to engage rim 23'on tray I5 and apply 'g force to the tray to elevate the unitary grid.

structure I6 and the ice blocks 5| adhering thereto relativel to the tray. This initial elevation of grid I6 is shown in Figs. 3 and 6 of the drawings and it is to be noted that the outwardly extending' iinger portions 31 on the laterally extending members or walls 35 have been moved upwardly within the grooves 41 provided in the upper part of the tray side walls. No movement of the grid walls relative to one another has occurred as yet, and it will be understood that the force thus far applied to levers 4| only breaks the bond between the ice blocks 5| and walls of tray I5. However, after the levers 4I are elevated slightly into the positionshown in Figs. 3 and 6, they may be more firmly grasped by the hands for exerting additional force thereto for application to the tray. Therefore, further upward movement of levers 4I about their pivotal mountin'gs into a position approximating, that disclosed in Fig. 'I of the drawings binds the finger portions 31 of walls 35 agains the upper walls of the grooves 41 in tray I5. The upper walls o f grooves 41 form obstructions to the .elevation of grid I6, and this-further elevation of the gridl relative to the tray causes the grid walls 35 to move or swing toward'V one another within the slots in the longitudinal grid wall or partition 3| provided'between .the segments 33 thereof.

Obviously, movement of the plurality of pairs of walls!! of grid Il relative to and toward one another by the cammingl arrangement of .fin-- gers 31 and the obstructing top walls`of grooves I1 shifts the Wallsl'out of their normal ice freezing position to break the bond between the ice blocks 5i and walls 3| and I5 of the unitary grid structure I6. 'I'his releases ice blocks Il.

from the grid ls andalso permits grid ls-to be completely removed from tray l5 as a unit as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings due to the over- Aall width of the grid being decreased by movement of its walls l5 inwardly toward the longitudinal partition Il as disclosed in Fig. 7. The ice blocks Il 'are thereafter liberted from walls of grid II before the grid is removed from tray i5, and these ice 'blocks freely fall back into` the tray from which they 'maybe readily harvested. Any desired number of the ice blocks li 4may be removed from tray I5 and the tray ltogether .with ice blocks 5I remaining therein can be replaced on its refrigerated support to maintain theremaining ice blocks in a frozen condition until -their harvestingand use isrequired.

l that I have provided an improved freezing device wherein a From the foregoing it will be seen unitary grid structure is removably interlocked 'Withinatraytomaintainwallsofthegridina normal ice block freezing position and wherein removal of the grid from the tray releases ice blocks 'from the grid walls. I have vdivided the.

forces acting to elevate the grid and ice blocks relative to the tray to break the bond therebef, tween and the forces acting to dislodge ice blocks yto render the improved device capable of manipulation with a minimum of.- effort on the part of the operator. The scissor-like action of the plurality of pairs of gridwalls moving toward one' and for liberating ice blocks from the grid.

While the form yof embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitut a preferred form.,

it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted. all coming Ywithin the scope of the claims which follows.

What is claimed is as follows:A

1. A freezing unit adapted to be'placedin or. on a cooling element of. a refrigerating system comprising in combination, a tray, aunitarygrid structure removably disposed in said tray, said grid. structure including a'longitudinal member anda plurality of pairs of members extending later1 a .lly"'` therefrom, said pairs of members being spaced apart along the length of said longitudinal member-and formingtherewith a plurality of walls dividing the interior of said tray into longitudinal rows of ice block compartments. each member-of said plurality'of pairs thereof being mounted upon said longitudinal member `for gage said tray. means on said ytray forfreceiving arcanos A 3 said'outwardly extending portions of said plurality er members for maintaining said members of Asaid unitary removable grid structure in a normal ice block-forming position-within the tray, means for applying force between said tray and said unitary grid structure to elevate the grid together-'with ice blocks adhering thereto relative to the tray to break an ice bond therebetween, and said outwardly extending portions of said plurality of members cooperating with said means on said tray to provide an obstruction to elevation of said grid structure .beyond position for liberating ice blocks from the ice compartment walls of saidV unitary grid structure.

2. A freezing unit adapted to be placed in or on a cooling'element of a.- refrigera'ting system comprising in combination, a tray, a unitary grid Istructure removably disposed in said'tray, said grid structureincluding a longitudinal member and a plurality of pairs of members extending laterally therefrom, said pairs of members being spaced apart along the length of said longitudinal member and forming therewith a plurality of walls dividing the interior of said tray into longitudinal rows of ice block compartments, each member of said plurality of pairs thereof being mounted upon said longitudinal member for .movement relative thereto and relative to one another, .each member of said plurality of pairs vthereof having a portion extending outwardly beyond its main body-.portion and adapted to engage said tray, means on said tray for receiving said outwardly extending portions of said plurality of members for maintaining said members 'of said unitary removable grid structure in a normal ice block-forming position within the tray, leverage mechanism pivotally. mounted up.- on said grid for applying force-between said tray and said unitary grid structure to elevate the grid together-with ice blocks adhering vthereto relative to the tray to break anice'bond therebetween, and said outwardly extending portions of said plurality of members cooperating with said means onsaid tray to provide an obstruction to elevation of said Aunitary grid structure beyond said ice bond breaking position of elevation thereof te thereby' resolve the met mentioned' force into a force acting upon' the outer extremity of each of the members of said pairs thereof to move same toward one another out of their normal ice block-forming position for liberating ice blocks from the ice compartment walls of said unitary grid structure.

.3. A freezing una 'adapted to be pleeedin r bersextendlng laterally therefrom, said lpairs of metal members being .spaced apart-[along the lengthnof said longitudinal metal memberand forming therewith a plurality of walls dividing the interior of said tray-into longitudinal rows vof ice block compartments, each member of said plurality of pairsthereof being mounted upon said longitudinal member for movement relative thereto and relative to one another, each mem- 4 aisaves ber of said plurality of pairs thereof having aI portionf extending'outwardly beyond its main body portion and adapted to engage said tray, means on said tray for receiving said outwardly extending portions of said plurality of members formaintaining said members of said unitary removable grid structure in4 a normal ice block forming position Within the tray, a lever pivotally mounted upon said grid 'at each end thereof for applying' force to the ends of said tray to elevate said unitary grid structure together with ice blocksadhering theretorelative to the tray to break an ice lbond therebetween, and said outwardlyfextending portions of said plurality of metal members cooperating with said means on said'tray to provide an obstruction to elevation of said unitary grid structure beyond said ice bond breaking position of elevation thereof to thereby resolve the rst mentioned force into a force acting upon th outer extremity of each of the metal members o said pairs thereof to move same toward one another out of their normal ice block-forming position for liberating ice blocks from the ice compartment walls of said unitary grid structure. l v

4. ,A freezing unit adapted to be placed in or Aon a cooling element of a refrigerating system comprising in combination, a tray, a unitary grid structure removably disposed in said tray, said grid structure includinga longitudinal member and a plurality of pairs of members extending laterally therefrom, said longitudinal member hav ing spaced apart vertical slots therein extending upwardly from its bottom edge, each member of said pairs of members being pivotally mounted upon said'longitudinal member and said pairs of members forming therewith a plurality of walls dividing the interior of said tray into longitudinal ws of ice block compartments, the one member o each pair of members being located adjacent the other member thereof for swinging movement relative to one another within a slotprovided in said longitudinal member, each member of said plurality of pairs thereof having a portion extending outwardly beyond its main body portion and adapted to engage said tray, means on said tray for receiving said outwardly extending portions of said plurality of members to maintain said members oi' said unitary removable grid structure in a normalice block-forming position within the tray, means for applying force between said tray and said unitary grid structure to elevate the grid together with ice blocks adhering thereto relative to the tray to break an ice bond theretbeween, and' said outwardly extending portions of said plurality of members cooperating with said means on said tray to provide an obstruction to elevation of said grid structure beyond said ice bond breaking position of elevation thereof to thereby resolve the first mentioned force into a force acting upon each of the members of said pairsthereof to swing same within said slots in said longitudinal member out of their normal ice block-forming position for libe erating ice blocks from the ice compartment walls of said unitary grid structure.

-5. A freezing unit'adapted to be placed in or on a cooling element of a refrigrating system comprising in combinations tray, a unitary grid structure removably disposed in said tray, said grid structure including a longitudinal member .and a plurality of pairs ot members extending laterally therefrom, said longitudinal member having spaced apart vertical slots therein extending upwardly from its bottoml edge, each member of said pairs of members being pivotally'- mounted upon said longitudinal member and said pairs of members forming therewithl a plurality oi' walls dividing the interior of said tray-into longitudinal rows of ice block compartments, the 5` one member of each pair of members being located adjacent the other member thereof for swinging movement relative to one another within aslot provided in said longitudinal member, each member of said plurality of pairs thereof having V a portion extending outwardly beyond its main body portion and' adapted to engage said tray, means on said tray for receiving said outwardly` extending portions of said plurality of members .to maintain said members of said unitary removable grid structure in a normal ice block-forming position within the tray, leverage mechanism pivotally mounted upon said `grid for applying force between said tray and said unitary grid structure to elevate the grid together with ice zo blocks adhering thereto relative to thetray to break an ice bond therebetween, and said outwardly extending portions of said plurality' of members cooperatingwith said means on said tray to provide an obstruction to elevation, of said grid structure beyond said ice bond breaking position of elevation thereof to thereby resolve the rst mentioned force into a force acting upon the outer` extremity ofeach of the members of said pairs thereof to-swing same within said slots in said longitudinal member out of their normal ice block-forming position for liberating ice blocks from the ice compartment walls of said unitary grid structure.

s. A freezing unit adapted to be pmd in orA on a cooling element of a refrigeration system l comprising in combination, a tray, a unitary grid structure removably disposed in said tray. said grid structure including a substantially ynonflexible metal longitudinal member and a plural- I ity of pairs of substantially non-flexible members extending laterally therefrom, said metal longitudinal member having spaced apart vertical slots therein extending upwardly from its bottom edge, each metal member of said pairs'of u members being pivotally mounted upon said longitudinal metal member and said pairs of members forming therewith a plmality of walls dividing the interior of said tray into longitudinal rows of ice block compartments, the one w` member of -each pair of metal members being located adjacent the other member thereof for' swinging movement relative to one another .with-i in a slot provided in said longitudinal member, each member of said plurality of pairs thereof having a portion extending outwardly beyond its main body portion and adapted to engage said tray,- means on said tray for receiving said outwardly extending portions of said plurality of metal members to maintain said members ofsaid a;

unitary removable grid structure in a normal ice .block-forming position within the tray, a lever pivotally mounted upon each end of said grid and the levers being adapted to apply force to the endsof said tray to elevate said unitary grid structure together with ice blocks adhering thereto relative to the tray to break an ice bond `therebeween, and said outwardly extending portions of said plurality of members cooperating with said means on said tray topprovide an obf 7o struction to elevation-or said grid structure beyond said ice bond brevdag .position of elevation thereof to thereby reso the rst' -mentioned force into a force acting upon\each ofthe metal f members of said Apairs thereoflto swing same 1 within said slots in said longitudinal metal memf ber out of their normal ice block-forming position for liberating ice blocks from the ice compartment walls of said unitary grid structure. l

7. A freezing unit adapted to be placed in or on a cooling element of a refrigerating system comprising in combination, a tray, a unitary grid structure removably disposed in said tray, said grid structure including a plurality of rigid walls dividing the interior of said tray into a plurality of ice block compartments, said rigid Walls of said unitary grid structure being interlocked together in movable relation to one another, means on said tray for receiving a po tion of certain of said walls of said unitary removable grid structure to maintain same in a normal ice block forming position within said tray, means for applying force between said tray and said unitary grid structure to elevate the structure together with ice blocks adhering thereto relative to the tray to break an ice bond therebetween, and saidA portion of said certain grid walls cooperating with said means on said tray to provide an obstruction to elevation of said grid structure beyond said ice bond breaking position of elevation thereof whereby said obstruction causes the rst mentioned force, upon further elevation of said grid structure relative to said tray, to be resolved into a force acting upon each of said certain rigid grid walls to move same out lof their normal ice block forming position for liberating ice blocks from the ice compartment walls of said unitary removable grid structur.

8. A freezing device4 comprising, -a tray, a

unitary removable grid structure disposed in said tray, said grid structure comprising a plurality oi relatively movable partitionscooperating to, form walls of ice block compartments, means on thereof for liberatingice blocks from said compartments.

9. A freezing device comprising, a tray, a unitary removable grid structure disposed in said tray, said grid structure comprising a plurality of relatively movable partitions cooperating to form walls of ice block compartments, means on said tray'disposedover a portion of certain walls of saidgrid and normally forming an obstruction to removal of the grid from the tray, a lever carried by said grid structure and adapted to apply force to said tray-for elevating the grid structure relativeto the tray to remove same therefrom as Aa unit, and said certain grid walls engaging said obstructing means on said tray during removal of the unitary grid structure therefrom whereby the force of said lever acts upon said certain grid Walls to move same relative to others thereof i'or liberating ice blocks from said compartments.

JAMES W. JACOBS. 

